Ohio State Bar Association urges commission to take up redistricting reform
By Kate Irby, The Plain Dealer
on November 14, 2012 at 6:00 AM, updated November 14, 2012 at 6:06 AM
on November 14, 2012 at 6:00 AM, updated November 14, 2012 at 6:06 AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State Bar Association has joined the growing call after the defeat of Issue 2 for fresh action on redistricting reform.
But rather than relying strictly on the legislature, the OSBA asked that a recently appointed commission that hasn't formally met yet address the issue.
The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission was established by the legislature in June 2011 to review the Ohio Constitution and ensure that it's up to date. OSBA leaders wrote a letter Monday to the co-chairs of the commission, Republican House Speaker William G. Batchelder of Medina County and Democratic Rep. Vernon Sykes of Akron, saying the commission was well-suited to address the topic and asking it to make it a top priority. The president of OSBA is a member of the commission. http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/11/ohio_state_bar_association_urg.html
Gongwer 11/13/12
Almost a week after voters rejected Issue 2, the Ohio State Bar Association has asked the leaders of the Constitutional Modernization Commission to give priority to reforming Ohio's redistricting process.
The OSBA had opposed Issue 2, saying it would have inappropriately involved appeals court judges in the highly contentious political process of redrawing legislative and congressional districts. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, October 2, 2012)
However, in a letter to the two commission co-chairmen, House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) and Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), OSBA leaders noted that they've also consistently held that the current redistricting system needs to be changed.
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